SPORTS BRIEFS

The Associated Press Published: January 9, 2009 7:00 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama says he still thinks there needs to be a playoff system for determining the country's college football champion.

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Obama, asked what he thought about Florida's 24-14 victory Thursday night over Oklahoma in the BCS championship game, congratulated the Gators and said he'd sent a message to a friend whose son plays for the team.

At the same time, he said, "If I'm Utah, or if I'm USC or if I'm Texas, I might still have some quibbles. ... "That's why we need a playoff."

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Bobby Bowden says he'll be back for a 34th season at Florida State.

The 79-year-old Bowden said that details of his new contract are being finalized. He also said his longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews will return.

Bowden earns slightly more than $2 million a year. His 382 career wins are one fewer than Penn State's 82-year-old Joe Paterno, who is the winningest coach in major college football.

Florida State was 9-4 in 2008 and finished No. 21 in the final Associated Press poll.

BASEBALL

NEW YORK (AP) -- Baseball authorized nearly 8 percent of its players to use drugs for ADHD last season, which allowed them to take otherwise banned stimulants.

A total of 106 exemptions for banned drugs were given to major leaguers claiming attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from the end of the 2007 season until the end of the 2008 season, according to a report released Friday by the sport's independent drug-testing administrator.

That's up from 103 therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) for ADHD in 2007, according to figures cited by baseball officials before a congressional committee last year.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets moved to add a pitcher while still negotiating with higher-profile free agents, reaching a preliminary agreement with Tim Redding on a $2.25 million, one-year contract.

Redding's deal is subject to him passing a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. Redding would be able to earn about $750,000 more in performance bonuses.

SOCCER

ROME (AP) -- David Beckham won't start Sunday in his Serie A debut against AS Roma.

"Beckham is ready to play even though he's been inactive for two months, but it's difficult to start him in the match against Roma," AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti told the ANSA news agency on Saturday.

Ancelotti stressed that the former England captain, who is on a three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, was "ready to give an important contribution" to the Milan squad, and would be welcome to stay on after his loan expires.

Former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas has speculated that Beckham may quit the MLS team after his loan and remain with Milan. Beckham spokesman Simon Oliveira has said Beckham was committed to returning to the Galaxy in March for the start of the MLS season.

Beckham made his debut for Milan in an exhibition against German club Hamburg on Tuesday.

GOLF

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Charl Schwartzel of South Africa had a hole-in-one on his way to an 8-under 63 and a share of the Joburg Open lead after the third round on Saturday.

Schwartzel hit a 7-iron into the cup at the 205-yard 12th on the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club's East Course, atoning for his double-bogey 6 at No. 11.

"My last hole-in-one was in July 1998 when I was 13 years old," Schwartzel said. "I pitched it short and landed in the hole, so that was really nice."

Schwartzel's 11-under 202 total tied him with South Africa's Andrew McLardy and Scotland's David Drysdale, the overnight leader.

McLardy scrapped his way to a 69, while Drysdale birdied the 18th for a 71.

Retief Goosen had six birdies for a 65 to join Sweden's Joakim Haeggman (66) and Norway's Anders Hansen (64) one shot back in a tie for fourth after a round that included two weather delays.

"I was a bit far behind, especially after the first round when I had a terrible start," Hansen said. "But I got myself back into the tournament so we'll see what's going to happen."

HOCKEY

NEW YORK (AP) -- Brendan Shanahan is heading back to the New Jersey Devils, the team with which he started his NHL career more than 20 years ago.

Shanahan has been an unrestricted free agent since July after his one-year deal with the New York Rangers expired. He has been looking for a new team since, and had spoken to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this season.

The forward, who will turn 40 later this month, is 11th on the NHL career goal list with 650. He spent four seasons with the Devils before joining the St. Louis Blues as a free agent in 1991.

FOOTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NFL has fined Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney $20,000 for comments he made after last Saturday's 23-17 overtime loss at San Diego.

In a postgame interview with Yahoo! sports, Freeney used two expletives in criticizing the officiating at the end of the game. Indianapolis was called for three defensive penalties on the Chargers' winning drive in overtime.